A National Homeopathic Service?

28 February 2002

By Vivienne Russell

If you suffer with chronic pain and conventional treatments don’t seem to work, you might consider trying a complementary therapy. But without burning a hole in your bank balance, how can you see if it works for you?

Few people realise that homeopathy has been available on the NHS since its inception in 1948. GPs can refer patients to a local homeopath or to one of the UK’s five homeopathic hospitals.

Access to homeopathic services can vary from place to place, however, depending on local funding arrangements and the enthusiasm of different GPs for homeopathy as an effective treatment.

But attitudes are beginning to change and doctors are beginning to take more of an interest in complementary therapies. The Royal London Homeopathic Hospital says more junior doctors are asking to train there and, following requests from medical students, Glasgow University now teaches homeopathy as part of its medical syllabus.

Mounting clinical evidence of the efficacy of homeopathy provides a firm basis for NHS referrals for the treatment, says Melanie Oxley, a practising homeopath and director of politics and NHS affairs at the Society of Homeopaths.

“Homeopathy is becoming better understood by the medical profession and [NHS] practitioners are increasingly referring their patients for homeopathy, as the evidence of its benefits are made available,” she says.

Around one in five GP practices now provide some form of complementary therapy, according to the NHS Alliance, a lobby group of health professionals and patients who believe the NHS should provide both orthodox and complementary medicines.

Among the conditions that can benefit from homeopathy are period and menopausal problems, rheumatism, osteoarthritis, acne, eczema, migraine and common mental health problems such as anxiety.

Homeopaths treat “like with like”. In other words, it is the job of the homeopath to find a medicine for their patient that would cause the same symptoms in a well person. The medicines are sourced in the natural world and given in tiny doses so that no harm can be done.

“The medicine works like a message or a reminder to stimulate the patient’s own metabolism and immune system to work more efficiently,” Melanie says.

Some patients, such as those who are too sensitive to take prescribed medicines, or those who are suffering but have no conventional diagnosis, may respond especially well to homeopathy, she says.

The therapy certainly worked for Derbyshire teacher Gill Taylor, who was suffering painful periods. After conventional hormone treatments failed to work and she rejected a hysterectomy as too drastic, Gill arranged to see a homeopath.

“I was cynical about the whole thing right from the beginning,” she says.
“I just thought this is another thing I can try.”

But Gill found that her symptoms were alleviated – the headaches she had been suffering before each period disappeared. She says homeopathy has had an enormous impact on her health, and helped her cope with the stress of work.

People interested in having homeopathy on the NHS should find out if their GP is willing to refer them. GPs may have to get a referral from the local NHS funding body – either a primary care trust or health authority.

Melanie says, “If your GP is unwilling to do this, you can hunt around for one who will! If the [primary care trust] or health authority is unwilling to support a referral, you may need to find out who the members of their boards are and do some lobbying.”

Further information:

The Society of Homeopaths
01604 621 400
www.homeopathy-soh.org

British Homeopathic Association
020 7566 7800
www.trusthomeopathy.org

© Health Media Ltd 2002
http://www.health-news.co.uk